Hellenistic Culture

Context: 323 BCE to 1st century BCE. The territories of Greece,

Anatalia, Egypt, Persia, and the Hindus Kush.

Ferguson, J. (2023, September 9). Hellenistic age map. Encyclopedia Britannica.

https://www.britannica.com/event/Hellenistic-Age

Big Idea: Hellenistic culture, a blend of Greek and other influences,

flourished throughout Greece, Egypt, and Asia.
Why it matters now: Western civilization today continues to be
influenced by diverse cultures.
Key terms and people:
1. Hellenistic: The blending of cultural traditions of the Greek,
Egyptians, Persian and Indian as a result of the conquest made by
Alexander the Great.

2. Euclid: Highly regarded mathematician who taught in Alexandria.

His best - known book was “Elements” that had 465 carefully
presented geometry propositions and proofs.
 3. Archimedes: He was an important Hellenistic scientist of
Syracuse. He studied at Alexandria. He estimated the value of pi
and explained the law of lever.

4. Epicureanism: Teachings that said that gods had no interests in

humans and just things perceived by the 5 senses were real. It
taught about the harmony between body and mind.

5. Stoicism: It was a school founded by Zeno called Stoicism that

proposed people should live virtuous lives in harmony with the will
of god and the natural laws.

6. Colossus of Rhodes: Largest known Hellenistic statue that was

created on the island of Rhodes. It served as a beacon of light for
traders.

Cosmopolitan cities: Trading centers and culturally important

locations.
Why were these important? Because it allowed the expansion
of the most important beliefs of a society, specially, traditions
and costumes.
Examples: Alexandria at Egypt, Antioch at Orontes, Seleucia at
Parthia, Ephesus and Pergamum at Anatolia.

Astronomy Mathematics Physics

Eratosthenes: Pythagoras:

Aristarchus: Euclid: Archimedes:

Ptolemy: Archimedes:

Source Analysis: Importance of philosophy.